Concrete form clamp



July 26, 1960 E. R. soLo CONCRETE FORM CLAMP I Filed June 16, 1958 INVENTOR. 57/144,918 S010 BY 54 muse, MATT/mar FA owns) l ks CONCRETE FORM CLAMP Einai' R. Solo, 1838 Temple Ave, Long Beach, Calif.

Filed June 16, 1958, Set. N0. 742,290

2 Claims. (Cl. 144-291) The present invention relates to a support clamp device, and particularly to a disengageable clamp which is adapted for supporting concrete forms.

In building a concrete structure, as a building foundation, it is common practice to provide a form consisting of two walls which serve to support cement until it is set. Due to the weight of the cement, the walls of a concrete form must be capable of withstanding large internal forces. As a result, it is generally necessary to provide considerable external support for the walls of concrete forms to prevent the walls from spreading or breaking. Sometimes the necessary support is provided by ties between the walls of a form, which require considerable labor to install and release. Alternatively, heavy material may be employed in forms; however, the use of such material results in increased expense.

It has previously been proposed to provide support clamps or frames for concrete forms, which clamps may be repeatedly used in the construction of generally-similar structures. However, in general, concrete-form-supporting clamps have not come into widespread use because of the manufacturing cost, and the difficulty of placing and removing previously-proposed clamps. As a result, there exists a need for an inexpensive concrete-form clamp which may be built from readily-available materials, and which may easily be positioned upon concrete forms and removed therefrom.

In general, the present invention comprises a clamp means for supporting concrete forms. The clamp means includes a structure including a pair of elongate members to engage the walls of a concrete form, and a pair of transverse members to hold the elongate members positioned. The transverse members are formed of two pieces of angular-cross-section material held in a spacedapart relationship by a binding plate. The binding plate is positioned so as, to act as a fulcrum for a tool which comprises a removable element in the clamping means, and which is employed to position the clamp on a concrete form. The tool comprises a handle which terminates in a fulcrum-receiving section that in turn is integrally-formed with a curved section which terminates in a bearing aligned with the handle.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved concrete-form-supporting clamp means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a concrete-form support means which may be inexpensively made of readily-available materials.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a concrete-form clamping means which incorporates a disengageable tool to lock the clamping means upon a concrete form.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a lever tool for aflixing a concrete clamp in position, which tool may be inexpensively manufactured.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a concrete-form support means which may be repeatedly used to support'the walls of a concrete form,

Patented July 26, 1960 and which incorporates a detachable spreading tool 'to facilitate the positioning of the support means These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following specification and accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a concrete-clamp means constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of Figure 2 with the clamp shown in an unlocked position;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a tool forming a part of the clamping means of the present invention;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view along line 5'5 of Figure 2; and

Figure 6 is a horizontal sectional view along line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Referring now to the drawing, and particularly to Figure 1 thereof, there is shown a pair of clamps C positioned upon a concrete form (including walls W) so as to support the cement or mortar of a concrete foundation F. Prior to the time when the foundation F is set, the weight thereof exerts a large outward force upon the walls W; however, the walls W are rigidly supported by the clamps C to contain the foundation F.

The clamps C may be positioned upon the walls W of the form, by employing a tool T to spread the upper sections of the clamps and thereby allow the clamps to be locked in position. Referring now primarily to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the clamp C of the present invention may be seen to comprise a pair of parallel elongate members 10 and 12 formed of rectangular-cross-section material, e.g. steel, which engage the exterior surfaces of the walls W. The lower ends 1011 and 12a of the members 10 and "12 are tapered to enable the clamp to be moreeasily positioned over the Walls W. A plurality of angular braces 14 are disposed along the lower portion of the elongate members 10 and 12 to engage the exterior surfaces of the walls W along with edges of the elongate members 10 and 12 and thereby provide more-uniform support for the walls W as shown in Figure 6.

A transverse member 16 includes spaced-apart pieces 18 and 20 of angular-cross-section material, e.g. steel, which are held together by a plate 22. The ends of the transverse member 16 are pivotally afiixed to each of the elongate members 10 and 12,at locations remote from the ends of the elongate members, by bolts 24 and 26. A number of holes 28 are placed in one end of the transverse member 16 to receive the bolt 26 and allow the spacing between the members 10 and 12 to be varied. Similarly, a plurality of holes 10b and 12b are provided in the elongate members 10 and 12 to receive the bolts 24 and 26 and allow the transverse member 16 to be variously positioned.

A second transverse member 30, similar to the member 16, and comprising a pair of spaced-apart pieces 32 and 34 of angular-cross section material, e.g. steel, supported by a plate 36 is pivotally-attached to the upper end of the elongate member 12 by a bolt 38. The transverse member 30 has a number of holes 40 in one end thereof, for receiving the bolt 38 and varying the distance between the elongate members 10 and 12; The other end of the transverse member 30 also carriesa bolt 42 having a shank which mates with a recess 4% in the upper end of the elongate member 10 to thereby interconnect these members.

The clamp shown in Figures 1 and 2 and described above may be economically manufactured by cutting standard-stock rectangular-cross-section steel to form the elongate members 10 and 12. Thereafter, short lengths of'angular-section steel may be welded to the elongate members to provide the braces 14. The transverse members 16 and 30 may be formed by welding the plate 22 on the surfaces of a pair of angle-section members, i.e. 18 and 20. Thereafter, thenecessary holes as 28' and 4! may be drilled in the-members and bolts inserted therethrough to complete the basic clamp of the present invention.

In placing the basic clamp of the present invention upon the form comprising the Walls W, a tool 46 shown in Figure 4 may be employed. The tool 46 comprises a handle 48 which terminates in a fulcrum-receiving section 50 which extends angularly away from the handle 48 to a curved section 52 providing a recess 53 and terminating in a bearing support '54-. A roller bearing '56 is mounted in the bearing support '54 and a lip 58 extends outward from the bearing. Normally, the tool 46 is cast .in the desired form and thereafter the roller bearing 56 is mounted therein. The manner in which the tool 46 is used to afilx the clamp of the present invention over the walls of a concrete form will now be considered.

Prior to the time when the foundation F is poured, the Walls W are erected and provided with adequate sup- ;port to hold them in place. The bolts 24, 26, and 38 are then placed respectively through certain of the holes 1%, 12b and 40, to adjust the clamp to fit over the walls W of the form. Next, the transverse member 31? of a clamp C is 'pivotally raised to withdraw the bolt 42 from the slot 44, as shown in Figure The lower portions of the elongate members and 12 are then spread apart and the clamp C is placed over the walls W as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The tool 46 is then positioned so that the fulcrum-receiving section 50 engages one end of the plate 36 (as shown in Figure 2) and the roller bearing 56 of the tool 46 engages the elongate member 10. With the tool so-positioned, the lip 55 extends adjacent the elongate member to prevent the tool 46 from slipping out of position.

Now, a force is exerted to the right and downwardly on the end of the handle 48, causing the upper end of the elongate member 10 to move outwardly, and placing the-recess 44 under the bolt 42. The action of the tool 46, to urge the transverse member downward, causes the bolt '42 to fall into the recess 44- when these connectors become aligned, as shown in Figure 5. The clamp C is thus rigidly .aflixed and looked upon the walls W to provide adequate support for the walls, The tool 46 may now be easily removed from the clamp and employed to place another basic clamp upon the concrete form.

When the requisite number of clamps C are locked on the Walls W of the "form, the foundation F is poured. After the foundation F has set, the clamps C and the walls W'can be easily removed. The clamps C are removed by simply tapping the end of the transverse mem- "ber 30 which lies adjacent the bolt '42 (as indicated in the provision of a spreading tool which my be repeat- '4 edly used to engage and afiix clamps of the present invention.

Still another important feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the clamp means may be easily adjusted to accommodate the use of forms made of stock having different thicknesses. That is, various sizes of lumber may be used to produce a uniform concrete wall, while employing the same clamp means which is vanously set.

It will be apparent that various modifications and changes may be made with respect to the foregoing description without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Means for engaging and supporting the walls of a concrete form comprising in combination: first and second elongate members for engaging the exterior of said walls, said first elongate member having a first connector in one end thereof; a'first transversemember pivotallyconnected to each of said elongate members at locations remote from the ends thereof and including a pair of angular cross section members held together by a fiat member afiixed thereto, said first transverse member having plural coupling means in one end thereof to adjustably engage one of said elongate members; a second transverse member similar to said first transverse member, having one end pivotallywonnected to an end of said second elongate member and having a second con nector with a mating contour to said first connector, the fiat member of said second transverse member comprising a fulcrum and a tool to disengageably engage said first elongate member and said fulcrum on said second transverse member to efiect movement therebetween and permit said firstand second connectors to be mated, said tool comprising a lever including a fulcrum-receiving portion integrally-formed with a handle, and a turnedsection extending from said fulcrum-receiving section and terminating in a roller bearing, said turned section for passing around said second transverse member.

'2. A clamp, to be placed upon a concrete form by a spreading lever, said clamp for supporting the walls of said form, comprising: first and second elongate members for engaging the exterior said walls, said firstelongate member having a first connector in one end thereof;

first and second transverse members each including a pair of spaced-apart angular-cross section members each having surfaces in a common plane joined by a plate affixed to said surfaces, said first transverse member pivotally-connected to each of said elongate members .at locations remote from the ends thereof, said .second transverse member having one end pivotally-connectedto an end of said second elongate member and having a second connector at the other end thereof, said 'seeondconnector having a mating contour to said firstconnector; the plate affixed to said second transverse member comprising a, fulcrum member'for receiving said leverwhich also engages said first elongate member and thereby spreads said clamp to enable said connectors to .be

mated.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 7 953,532 Kimmel Mar. 29, 1910 1,566,377 Currente Dec. 22, 1925 1,619,749 Murray Mar. 1, 1927 1,656,340 Samuell et a1. Jan. -17, 1928 2,504,043 Parker Apr. 11, 1950 

